Thursday, November 1, 2012

The Fred Mitchell Award recognizes 31 place-kickers for their excellence on the football field and in the community during the month of October.

A blue-ribbon Selection
Committee evaluates place-kickers that are nominated by their schools.Members of the Pro and/or College Football
Hall of Fame on the Selection Committee include Tom
Beck, Kevin Butler, Paul Hornung, Marv Levy, Steve McMichael, Don Pierson and
Gale Sayers.Former football players and
others that are active in their communities are also on the Selection Committee
including Carl Allegretti, Sean Gothier, Teddy Greenstein, Michael Husted, Dan
Jiggetts, Rick Kolaczewski, Connie Kowal, Greg Loberg, Tom
Lynch, Carol Monroe, Jeff Michalczyk, Mark Murphy, Rob Perry, Jeff Schebler,
Caroline Schrenker, Jay Sebben, Bob Thomas, Wolfe Tone, Todd Wilkins, Gary
Zauner and Rob Zvonar.There are 10
former college or NFL place-kickers on the Selection Committee, including
Schebler (the inaugural Fred Mitchell Award recipient in 2009 and the
highest-scoring place-kicker in NCAA history at any level) and Lynch (two-time
recipient of the Award and the kicker on the 2011 NAIA National Champion Saint
Xavier University Cougars).

In alphabetical order, the final third of the Fred Mitchell Award honorees for October 2012 are listed below.

GREG O’DONNELL - Colorado State University-Pueblo – Division II

Freshman from Monument, CO….leads the #1 ranked ThunderWolves in scoring with 77 points from 12 of 15 FG’s and 41 of 45 PAT’s….set school records this season for most points (77) and FG’s (12) by a freshman….has made his last 9 FG’s which is the 2nd longest streak in school history….Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week three times including on October 29….visits sick children with football teammates at the St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center in Pueblo

NATE RAY - University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh – Division III

Sophomore from Verona, WI….scored 27 points in October from 3 of 3 FG’s and 18 of 21 PAT’s as the team won all four of its games during the month….scored 8 points in 50-13 win over UW-Eau Claire on October 6….scored 10 points in 34-13 win over then-#14 UW-Platteville on October 13….scored 4 points in 28-13 win over then-#5 UW-Whitewater on October 20….leads Division III in FG accuracy with 100% (10 of 10) and he is the leading kick scorer in the WIAC….Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh volunteer….Wisconsin Special Olympics volunteer….Oshkosh YMCA volunteer

TYLER SIEVERTSEN - University of Northern Iowa – FCS

Junior from Cedar Rapids, IA….2nd on the Panthers in scoring with 49 points from 7 of 10 FG’s and 28 of 28 PAT’s….scored 19 points in October….scored 9 points in 27-6 win over South Dakota State on October 20….active leader in career FG % in FCS….averaging 62 yards on 40 kickoffs….Just Read program volunteer to connect UNI student-athletes with elementary school students….Special Olympics volunteer….Kickers in the Midwest mentor…high school football camp volunteer….Salvation Army bell ringer

WESLEY SKIFFINGTON - Stony Brook University (New York) - FCS

Senior from Brandon, FL….3rd on the team in scoring with 64 points from 8 of 10 FG’s and 40 of 41 PAT’s….scored 29 points in October for the 8-1 Seawolves….scored 11 points in 41-10 win over Gardner-Webb on October 20….most prolific kicker in school history….all-time leading scorer in school history and 1st among active FCS kickers with 293 career points….1st among active FCS kickers in PAT’s attempted and made….4th Big South player to make 40 FG’s….Friends of Jaclyn Program volunteer….Sunrise Fund volunteer at Stony Brook University Medical Center

PAT SMITH - Western Illinois University - FCS

Junior from Quincy, IL….leads the Leathernecks in scoring with 40 points from 10 of 10 FG’s and 10 of 10 PAT’s….scored 6 points in 24-17 win over South Dakota on October 6….has made 11 straight FG’s dating to last season taking sole possession of 2nd place in school history and one shy of the school record….made career-long 46-yard FG in 27-17 win over Indianapolis….surpassed 100 career points in October….100% FG % ranks 1st in FCS….accumulated 46 rushing yards on three attempts and completed an 11-yard pass off a punt….averaging 59 yards on 28 kickoffs….Sammy Fund volunteer with his family for a fundraiser in his hometown….Relay for Life volunteer….Special Olympics volunteer…Rocky’s Reach volunteer helping elementary school children during recess and reading…Jump Rope for Heart volunteer

STEFAN TERLECKYJ - Wayne State University (Michigan) – Division II

Junior from Warren, MI….2nd on the team in scoring with 41 points from 6 of 9 FG’s and 23 of 23 PAT’s….scored 21 points in October from 3 of 3 FG’s and 12 of 12 PAT’s….scored 6 points in 24-21 win over Hillsdale on October 6….school's all-time leader in PATs made (137) and attempted (139) in just his third season ... 3rd in school history in FG’s made with 29 ... scored 9 points in 35-31 win over Lake Erie on September 15….averaging 57 yards on 37 kickoffs…helped sell merchandise for breast cancer awareness at the WSU women's basketball game ... collected small toiletry items to make basic needs bags for the Covenant House Michigan as part of the Wayne Cares program ... participated in United Way's Martin Luther King Day of Service by assisting the Motor City Blight Busters with a renovation project in metropolitan Detroit

DAN TRYON - Wesley College (Delaware) – Division III

Senior from Wilmington, DE….2nd on the Wolverines in scoring with 35 points with 6 of 7 FG’s and 17 of 23 PAT’s….scored 20 points in October….scored 8 points in 26-17 win over Birmingham-Southern on October 6….made 31-yard FG as time expired to beat #25 Louisiana College 25-22 on September 22….named NCAA.com Special Teams of the Week on September 28….Team Captain and MVP of the 2012 lacrosse team….Special Olympics volunteer….Jumpstart’s Read for the Record program

Senior from Sioux Falls, SD….2nd on the team in scoring with 71 points from 13 of 15 FG’s and 32 of 34 PAT’s….scored 28 points in October from 5 of 6 FG’s and 13 of 14 PAT’s for the 8-1 Cougars….scored 12 points in 54-41 win over Upper Iowa on October 26…entered 2012 season with 309 points ranking 2nd in school history among kickers and 7th overall… averaging 64 yards on 61 kickoffs….team’s nomination for Allstate Good Hands Team….Sioux Falls Fellowship of Christian Athletes volunteer and Group Huddle Leader on campus….Habitat for Humanity volunteer….Vacation Bible Study volunteer

ANDY WILDER - Northern Arizona University – FCS

Junior from Scottsdale, AZ….2nd on the team in scoring with 45 points from 7 of 9 FG’s and 24 of 24 PAT’s….scored 9 points in 45-38 win at North Dakota on October 13….made game-winning 33-yard FG against UNLV to upset the FBS Rebels 17-14….game-winner was the first FG of his college career….Welcome Back Jacks event volunteer helping students move into on-campus housing in the fall….represented football team in Flagstaff Fourth of July parade

SEAN WILLIAMS - Wittenberg University (Ohio) – Division III

Senior from Plainfield, IN…2nd on the team in scoring with 50 points from 5 of 7 and 35 of 37 PAT’s….scored 25 points in October for the 7-1 Tigers….207 career kicking points is 4th in school history surpassing Fred Mitchell in the first game of the 2012 season….holds school records for consecutive FG’s (19) and PAT’s made (50)….has made 117 of 122 PAT’s in his career for school best 96% among kickers with at least 40 attempts….averaging 56 yards on 47 kickoffs….youth football camp volunteer in hometown and at Wittenberg….volunteered at Habitat for Humanity Re-Store in Springfield….Springfield Regional Medical Center volunteer….Rocking Horse Community Health Center intern